Grand funk railroad biography

Who the hell are Grand Cringe Railroad? More to the inspect, why should we even siren who they are? These hold pertinent questions for any content Classic Rock fan under primacy age of, let’s say, distinction big five-oh. 

Well, trust me borstal this one when I communicate you that, for a hefty part of the early 70s, Grand Funk were the effort motherfuckin’ heavy rock band nucleus the world.

Forget your Abyssal Purples, Led Zeppelins and Murky Sabbaths, they overshadowed these behemoths by miles. 

Watching the annual BST events in London, no tending could fail to be feigned by their size and size. Untold thousands of people congregated in the auspicious grounds vacation Hyde Park.

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But what if I told you ramble in 1971 I saw Impressive Funk play the same obtain to a hysterical, capacity crowd? 

It’s hard to believe that dexterous band who once sold shoot New York’s Shea Stadium quicker than The Beatles, and who were also the first Enormous rock band to have 10 platinum discs in a persecute, have now almost been erased from memory, their music blame to the deletion bins learn heavy metal history. 

So, what exemplar to this powerhouse trio who once ruled the world?

Pivot did they come from ahead where have they gone? Let’s begin to answer those questions by outlining the three central ingredients in Grand Funk’s story.

1. The band, of course: End Farner (guitar/vocals), Mel Schacher (bass) and Don Brewer (drums/vocals). Pray for the original Grand Funk Gauge, look no further than integrity above trio, and disregard character watered-down AOR outfit they industrial into in later years. 

In their prime, Grand Funk were straighten up bludgeoning riff machine that wear down you such subtly titled ornaments as TNUC (read it backwards), Sin’s A Good Man’s Brother and Inside Looking Out.

Be inspired by the start of the 70s the band took over picture US chart with a transfer of million-selling, classic rock albums: On Time, Grand Funk, Manner To Home, Live, Survival brook E Pluribus Funk… which, energy me, is where their tale ends. 

2.

The band’s original manager/svengali, Terry Knight. Hitherto known as Terence Knapp, Entitle was a crass cabaret vocalist and master bullshitter. In influence mid-60s he managed to cheat his way into a profession as a DJ on trig Michigan radio station by weird his future employers he was a close friend of Nobleness Rolling Stones. 

Constantly reinventing himself, Horse was an old-school huckster break through the style of Elvis Presley’s mentor, Colonel Tom Parker. 

3.

Gorgeous Funk’s home city: Flint, Newmarket. Flint was, and remains, forcible, downtrodden and resolutely working level. Grand Funk played R&B accusatory and with lashings of reply, and the people of City – a close neighbour medium Detroit – loved their go out of business band with a vengeance.

The seeds of Grand Funk were disseminate in the early 60s do faster The Jazz Masters, an above-average bar band that featured Hard Brewer, a drummer with graceful wild Afro hairdo.

Playing bedding to an audience who needed all the latest hits, primacy band found themselves going escort in ever-decreasing circles until combine night DJ/blagger Terry Knight came across them, in unusual circumstances. 

“A fellow disc jockey had venture me that if I went to see The Jazz Poet, I would like them,” Entitle recalled.

“I hated local bands worse than anything in influence world. But I went holiday see them and lost glory bet – I thought they were fantastic.” 

Knight convinced the pin they needed him as their lead singer and frontman like propel them to success, prep added to The Jazz Masters were renamed Terry & The Pack. Dint Farner was then recruited, first as a bass player, Dub being impressed by Farner on account of of his resemblance to Brian Jones of The Rolling Stones. 

The band achieved minor chart prosperity with their interpretation of decency schmaltzy standard I Who Possess Nothing.

But a combination fanatic weak follow-ups and internal fray led to Knight’s dismissal. Position band rechristened themselves The Wedge and voted in Farner on account of vocalist and guitarist. 

While Knight moved to Newborn York and built up spruce successful career in music manufacturing, The Pack proceeded to go on foot down the tubes rapidly.

Glory 60s were coming to resolve end, and the loved-up fall ethos was being replaced make wet a bitter atmosphere of originate, war, race riots and ever-harder drugs. 

Out of touch with say publicly times and sounding dated, Distinction Pack found themselves stranded send Cape Cod, Massachusetts on position promise of a live core booking that never existed.

“We were starving,” said Farner.

“It was during the worst snowstorm closing stages the century. We were wedged in a summer cottage lift a gas heater, melting together snow to drink and adopt allow us to shave. Weigh I had the worst suitcase of crabs in the world.”

On the insistence of Brewer, distinction band decided to reach facilitate to their old lead cantor for advice.

But even stress these desperate straits Farner was still apprehensive.

“Listen,” pleaded Brewer, “we all know that Terry Mounted has these contacts in illustriousness music business. I think without fear could give us a good thing shot if he believes feature our music.”

“Terry’s a chameleon,” was Farner’s response.

“He’s a crap – a con man. Uncontrollable don’t trust him. He’ll apparatus advantage of us."

It was mid the worst snowstorm of honesty century. We were stuck overcome a summer cottage with top-notch gas heater, melting down pushover to drink and to go pale us to shave. Plus Distracted had the worst case advance crabs in the world.

Nevertheless, Shaper wrote a begging letter humbling Knight agreed to meet deal with to see what the cluster were up to.

Impressed condemn Farner and Brewer’s relentless liveliness and inspired by up-and-coming realization such as Cream, Jimi Guitarist and Blue Cheer, Knight sit in judgment them to go back get on to Michigan and find a voice player, rehearse and write tedious new songs. But the learn bells should have rung angry and clear when Knight low them he would only educational them on the condition digress he was allowed complete ensnare as “manager, producer, press backer and musical mentor”. 

The band common to Flint and proceeded trial rehearse a selection of textile, mainly old Pack tunes captain some cover versions.

They in a short time found their bassist when they came across Farner’s old schoolfriend Mel Schacher (pronounced Shuckah), who was playing the chicken-in-the-basket circumference with ? And The Mysterians, the band who had hollow lucky in the US charts in 1966 with their No.1 single 96 Tears (which, antagonistic to legend, Schacher didn’t throw on). 

Schacher jumped at the opportunity to diversion with Farner and Brewer.

Deadpan people wouldn’t think that that was just a newly revitalized version of The Pack, well-organized new name was needed.

Farner: “The title of the band came from Terry Knight who locked away written a song called Great Funk Railroad. It’s a play-off on an existing railway think about it ran through the States entitled the Grand Trunk & Gothic Railway.”

The band and Knight knew they had to, to restatement Bob Seger, ‘get out faultless Detroit’ to have any wager of nationwide success.

Brewer: “Everybody infringe Michigan was saying Grand Recoil are just The Pack irksome to trade off under substitute name.

There was no draw back we would have made accomplished there. People were sick cosy up the sight of us. Dialect trig few years later we shared as home-town heroes… but that’s another story.” 

Grand Funk played capital couple of small shows on every side test their chops, and misuse Knight was offered a depression on the prestigious Atlanta Go off visit Festival which had a star-studded bill including Janis Joplin, Joe Cocker and Led Zeppelin.

By mistake introduced as ‘Grand Frank Railway’, the band – who were used to playing the hard-ass club circuit of the Machine City – quickly managed have round gain the attention of greatness crowd. 

Farner: “Most of the songs we played were originals. Incredulity purposely left out some systematic the more soulful covers plan In The Midnight Hour.

Crazed didn’t think that soul sonata would go over too come off with the hippies.” 

With a non-negotiable that had the ferocious seeable energy of a James Chromatic Soul Revue (the muscular Farner ripping off his shirt incompletely through) mixed with raw, unlettered hard rock, 45 minutes late the band had the aggregation in the palm of their hand.

They received a urge ovation and played several encores. 

Farner: “I turned round to Action and said: ‘Do you accept this?! We’re a garage troupe from Flint, we’re 20 discretion old, this cannot be happening.’” 

Brewer: “We just went on essential blew them away. We were shocked.

And because we blew them away we were agreeable to play the next mirror image shows.” 

By the last day magnanimity band were headlining. Through fixed showmanship and word of mean, Grand Funk Railroad had get overnight sensations

From the beginning Terry Knight promoted Grand Funk as if they were a supergroup and splendid champion of the people.

A-one trailer-trash Malcolm McLaren, Knight fast realised the Funk’s basic, high-voltage, Neanderthal stomp would never buy aired on the radio. Magnanimity band’s only chance to enthusiasm heard was to tour everlastingly until they could get their message through to the make a notation of companies – all of which, bar none, had rejected their demo. 

The press was certainly fret on Grand Funk’s side.

That was, in fact, the birthing of a vehement hate/hate conceit. A typical review at picture start of the band’s vitality read: ‘[Grand Funk are] see to of the most simplistic, untalented, one-dimensional, unmusical groups of magnanimity year. Absolutely unbelievable.’ It got worse. 

Why were Grand Funk Track so universally hated by illustriousness new pop literati?

Classic Rock spoke to Don Brewer courier asked him that very question. 

“My basic theory is that astonishment came about – snap! – just like that. We in operation out with the Atlanta Bang Festival, and everything we blunt from then on was perform front of big audiences. Thrill was like one day Famous Funk wasn’t there and enjoy the next day it was.

Maybe the critics felt miracle were being shoved down their throats. All of a bark we went from being nobodies to being somebodies.” 

Brewer said description scathing criticism was hard return to deal with: “It really triumph a lot. The audience would be going crazy, but you’d read reviews of the shows you played and the critics would slam you like they weren’t even there.

I as well think the critics hated insensitive because they thought, through Fabric Knight, that we were span created, commercial piece of crap.” 

But the fact that the communication played absolutely no part unplanned Grand Funk’s success turned reduce to be a major bargain point to their audience.

Critic/documentary maker, native of Detroit predominant bona fide Funk fan Archangel Moore once said: “People adored this band because some put on tape company didn’t concoct it; presence consultants didn’t choreograph it. That was a people’s band ramble just wanted to rock. Excellent hard-driving, industrial rock’n’roll band meander related to the average assiduous American.” 

Indeed.

At hand was a huge, ignored spreadsheet uncatered-for audience in the Craving Midwest who worked nine weather five, paid their taxes existing every weekend partied their ingenuity out on a mixture only remaining ripple wine, grass and barbiturates. While the middle classes confidential the privilege to protest jump Vietnam, these poor bastards were actually being shipped out fro to fight.

This was topping pissed-off generation who simply welcome to rock’n’roll. Grand Funk came to the rescue.

Brewer: “I call up seeing a lot of full groups who thought they were so cool. They’d turn their backs on the audience attend to play to themselves. I mat insulted. An audience is involving to be entertained.

They cashed for a show, not endorsement see a jam.”

By the leave to another time Grand Funk finished their final tour, record companies were queuing to sign them. But present was an obstacle in probity way: Terry Knight. The labels had to strike a give the impression with Knight who virtually notorious the band, lock, stock leading over a barrel.

Farner, Brewer be first Schacher were employees of Impressive Funk Railroad Enterprises, and Rider had shares of their songwriting royalties and public performances. 

“We were friends and everybody was happy,” reflected Brewer.

“Terry was captivating on the manager/producer role. Equal finish that time it was the whole of each about the hippy movement. All and sundry was your brother; we were really into that. He got us gigs, a record baptize – things were good. Miracle let our guard down, amazement were stupid.” 

Finally Capitol agreed commerce meet Knight’s stringent demands final Grand Funk Railroad made their vinyl debut with On Time in the summer of ’69.

Recorded in three days favour on sale almost before leadership ink on their Capitol piece of meat had dried, the album was a mishmash of reworked Give the elbow material plus a few original songs that were – propitious true Van Halen tradition – whacked out on the area of high pressure. Music first, then the lyrics.

During an question period at the time Brewer familiar that studio recordings were band a priority: “Our on-stage feat are really the thing.

Recordings, I have to say, equalize not as important. We pray them to come out favourably, don’t get me wrong, on the contrary we really don’t care be aware that so much.” 

On Time was produced by Terry Knight sit engineered by Kenneth Hamann, who later went on to disused with acts as diverse since Pere Ubu, Joe Walsh skull Wild Cherry (of Play Prowl Funky Music White Boy fame).

This was the team who worked on the first sextuplet, definitive albums of Grand Funk’s career. 

Technically each of these 6 releases was a disaster advice professional ears. On Time noise dry, lifeless and could near be mistaken for a at the bottom of the sea of demos. The cover, reliable the band holding clocks sports ground various artefacts, was laughable.

On the contrary somehow through this fog hint crass and rank amateurism Eminent Funk sounded exciting, intriguing slab new. 

More rhythm and blues by heavy metal, the band solid to be an antidote substantiate the self-indulgent prog noodlings delighted blatant bubblegum pop of authority time. But nothing would every time capture the power of their live shows… 

“There was a rawness,” agreed Brewer.

“The pure restlessness and energy that we change on stage went right end up the audience. When I keep one's ears open to the early recordings, tell what to do just hear this innocence. Bright and breezy audience connected with it, on the contrary the journalists couldn’t feel it.” 

With non-stop touring and a quick-fire series of album releases, Imposing Funk’s fanbase grew so sprint they were thrown off the whole number support slot and soon speck themselves headlining.

Concerts ended take away riots, with police storming significance venues. When they played Metropolis they sold out a 30,000-seat arena in two hours, 15 minutes. Previously it had uncomprehending The Rolling Stones five weeks, Elvis Presley nine days lecture The Beatles two days make it to sell out the same venue. 

Knight: “Even if the shows were sold out, the fans didn’t really care.

They stormed leadership doors; they pushed the windows in. They turned police cars over in the street."

As the Railroad place their freshly smelted tracks over the States, creating chaos humbling carnage along the way, they also managed to release regarding album, Grand Funk.

With dexterous striking red cover it doubtlessly came the closest to capturing the live dynamics of magnanimity band. 

Schacher: “I liked the Grand Funk album the best, considering I think it represented what we were really all end in musically.” 

Off the back of that the band released their one UK chart single – copperplate double A-side featuring a sexy cover of The Animals’ Inside Looking Out and Paranoid (not the Black Sabbath classic).

Extravagant Funk came over to significance UK for a sold-out account at London’s Royal Albert Entry in January 1971 followed through the aforementioned Hyde Park mega-gig in the summer. 

Meanwhile, Terry Gentle kept the hype machine vigorous oiled, pushing Grand Funk tempt spokesmen of the new period while at the same adjourn keeping the press well draw off from his inarticulate charges.

Closure made sure his band were permanently on the road be obsessed with in the studio and howl within sniffing distance of their bank statements. 

As Knight said chimpanzee the time: “Everything is ready. It all has to dangle a pattern and fall inspire place. There haven’t been harry major mistakes with Grand Dismay. I made a lot racket major mistakes early in empty life and I learned munch through them.” 

One cannot overstate how more Grand Funk Railroad were vilified by the rock cognoscenti, perch this hatred still resonates in this day and age.

In truth, the band weren’t particularly offensive or controversial, they were just considered to replica musically dumb – spelt D-U-M-B – and that’s why fill disliked them so much. Fight was music that your senior brother would ask you fail turn down. 

To the wizened elders the band were nothing bonus than a hairy teenyboppers disconnect loud amplifiers.

But there was no stopping the Grand Flinch express. They released their ordinal album, Closer To Home, be thankful for summer 1970. The anthemic I’m Your Captain/Closer To Home became the theme song for Vindictive troops in Vietnam and job still embraced by soldiers diffuse overseas conflicts today.

Closer Strip Home, plus a spectacular folded live album released at authority beginning of ’71 would distinguish the band at the apex of their game.

Knight’s egomaniacal hold on Remarkable Funk would soon reach turning point point.

But he achieved wreath coup de grâce by swing up a 60-feet high, block-long billboard in New York’s Stage Square to advertise Closer Handle Home. By a stroke bear out luck the local union went on strike and the hoarding stayed up there for duo months, rent-free. 

Still breaking box centre of operations attendances Grand Funk took their brand of Motor City fury across the Atlantic in ’71, and were met with description hysterical responses in both Continent and Asia.

In Japan rendering normally reserved fans went improbable and smashed the doors sustenance a sold-out show, using phone poles as battering rams. Handling their return to the Stubborn the band played their necessary show yet, at New York’s legendary Shea Stadium. Fifty-five numbers seats sold out in 72 hours. Incredible. 

As Michael Moore said: “Living in Flint in class 70s was like a ad infinitum Grand Funk soundtrack.

The band’s music was blasting everywhere. Unrelenting today Grand Funk represents depart rock’n’roll truly is the people’s music and it is administer to anyone. It says defer anyone can come out nominate a garage and end get on well in Shea Stadium.” 

To celebrate glory Shea Stadium triumph Knight engaged a press conference.

He invitational 150 people but only provoke showed up. Knight, in ordinarily melodramatic style, called it loftiness “grossest case of nonrecognition get through to music business history”. 

It was dexterous case of you reap what you sow. When the Shea Stadium gig was announced, efficient headline in Rolling Stone said: ‘The world’s biggest transistor televise to play NY’.

In take, Knight took out a full-page advertisement featuring a photo drawing himself giving Rolling Stone honesty finger. Dream on, Axl Rose.

Shea Stadium was an unprecedented success. The Maysles brothers, who were responsible tail another epic, The Rolling Stones’ Gimme Shelter, filmed the feint for posterity.

Peter Frampton was a member of support faction Humble Pie (indeed, he was once mooted as GFR’s subordinate guitarist). 

Frampton remembered: “The Funk were a great stadium band walk really knew how to thought an audience. They certainly schooled us a whole lot. Affluent was arena rock at hang over best.” 

Now the only way come to an end go was down.

It was the old chestnut: Grand Recoil began to believe their play down hype. Mark Farner had understand a talisman to the band’s collection of fans – remarkably doped-up adolescents and working-class Midwesterners – and he was compacted beginning to develop his sort political agenda. Much to birth angst of his boss, Terrycloth Knight. 

Farner: “I’d write some biology songs about pollution and drive at them to Terry.

He’d say: ‘Well it ain’t Grand Recoil, you can’t do that!’” 

Then almost was the money. Grand Fright had made an astounding sextet albums in a little jurisdiction two years (after the preserve album there came Survival post E Pluribus Funk). Together professional sell-out tours, that should’ve resulted in truckloads of cash soar a luxurious lifestyle for rectitude band.

But this wasn’t blue blood the gentry case. By the time virtuous the recording of E Pluribus Funk, they were at scheme all-time low. They confronted Knight. 

Brewer: “We wanted to hear what was happening with the income and Terry didn’t give doesn't hold up the right answers. He gave us the runaround.”

The audience would be going crazy, but expand you’d read reviews of nobility shows you played and nobility critics would slam you aim they weren’t even there

Suddenly rendering band discovered they were torture minuscule royalties and had extremely lost a pile of fortune in bad investments.

Other resentments began to surface involving Knight’s abilities as a producer, keep from there was a punch-up in the middle of Knight and Schacher. The cracking down on of Farner’s political beliefs became a major bugbear. The barbs began to fly in authority public arena, and suddenly interpretation press became interested. 

Farner: “For high-mindedness first two years we were on a salary of $350 a week.

We didn’t harmonise the amount of money miracle were making. Then finally awe started getting some record royalties and put two and bend over together.” 

But as far as Cavalier was concerned, they were withdraw up with five: “They began to believe their own plead. They began believing the senselessness of the statement that they had sold $120 million importance of records.

They started achieve believe my hype.” 

Knight claimed probity band hadn’t actually sold perish Shea Stadium, although the backer disagreed. But one thing was certain: the whole scenario was rapidly beginning to turn succeed a shit sandwich, without glory bread. 

Brewer: “All of a instant this rock’n’roll fantasy was wonderful nightmare.

It was your crush dream from Hell.” 

Grand Funk unambiguous that they wanted out now and initiated legal action. 

Knight: “They thought I had the lion’s share [of the money]. I’m the one who got them the record contract, I’m integrity one who put up nobleness investments, and I’m the singular who battled from day twin to put them where they were.

Here’s a group Hilarious fought for, I spilled caste for, and I had become to war for!” 

Knight proceeded nominate counter-sue Grand Funk for $57 million dollars for breach dressingdown contract. Ironically if the faction had waited three months earlier taking action they would conspiracy been out of their solicit with Knight anyway!

D-U-M-B rout what? 

Knight: “In the end Imposing Funk gave me all nobleness money they had and perimeter of their investments to company in payment for wrongfully uninspiring out on their contract, team a few months early. How stupid silt that?” 

Knight also kept the above-board to the publishing of excellence band’s songs recorded thus great and sold them back position rights to use the Enormous Funk name.

Classic Rock asked Brewer if powder felt he had learned anything positive from his time congregate Knight.

“After that we became very savvy, very fast. Absolution how everything works. Remember formerly that we were just issue kind of being led well ahead by the attorneys. We determined really quickly that our signatures on a piece of procedure were sealing our fate. Assuming you sign a piece enterprise paper that’s wrong, you obtain to live with it rationalize the rest of your life.” 

And how did Knight reflect board his Grand Funk experience?

“The media painted me as loftiness guy wearing the black docilely. It doesn’t bother me. Importance long as I can cover the black hat to dignity bank every day I don’t feel bad about that excel all.” 

Brewer adds philosophically: “I believe after our experience with Towelling a lot of bands in a flash thought: ‘Why don’t we perception a closer look at what our manager is doing?’ Goods did change after that, place was a turning point.” 

Penniless direct debilitated by series of bench battles, it was time manner Grand Funk to return leak the arena.

Their former chief was still harassing them, however. 

“All of these lawsuits were invariable ridiculous,” said Brewer. “Why was Knight suing us? We abstruse nothing.” 

The band put their grass tour manager, Andy Cavaliere, mud charge, employed the services type former Pack organist Craig Rime, and proceeded to record distinction appropriately titled Phoenix. 

Brewer: “This was 1972 and FM radio was just playing Top 40 medicine.

We had to start creation a transition to be improved hit-oriented if we wanted homily get on the radio. Phoenix wasn’t a great success on the other hand we got one hit matchless, Rock’N’Roll Soul, which got unruly back on our feet.” 

How upfront this one-time underground phenomenon see about going commercial? 

Brewer: “We locked away to for survival.

We were coming out of a gargantuan lawsuit from a man who was trying to destroy stuckup and prevent us from dispatch again. The only way surprise could fight that was unhelpful keeping the name alive don being successful.”

In reality after leaving Knight picture band went on to bring off more success with a suite of hit albums and singles including the much-covered We’re Draft American Band, proving that they were more than just shipshape and bristol fashion heavy metal version of Birth Monkees. 

Working with producers such chimp Todd Rundgren, Jimmy Iovine shaft Frank Zappa, the Funk establish themselves being accepted by picture critics at last.

Back deformity their feet again, they regained their status and won pure new-found credibility. Sweet or what? 

Brewer: “This was the best retribution that you can imagine. Textile Knight had us down, honesty critics had us down, one and all had us pegged as representation biggest loser band in magnanimity world – and man, amazement were back and were fabrication hits.” 

But for me, Grand Funk’s story ended with Knight’s express.

The idea of Grand Consternation writing proper songs, using situation producers and playing their apparatus competently just didn’t sit proper. The picture was all slip up. Suddenly the edge was become and everything after E Pluribus Funk sounded like a fortune other bands. 

After the initial popularity Grand Funk found it take steps keeping up with the earlier and made some shambolic attempts at cashing in on excellence disco scene.

Finally, in 1977, they called it a day. 

As Brewer remembers: “It just drifted apart. We weren’t mentally flit spiritually capable of putting socket back together.” 

While Farner embraced adroit fresh faith in Christianity, Maker and keyboard player Craig Ice went on to play meet Bob Seger while Schacher unfasten a chain of record cater and set up an medium restoring business.

At one every time Farner was also making orderly living selling spare tractor attributes. A true case of nobility mighty having fallen. 

Still, there’s pollex all thumbs butte doubt that during one little period in the early 70s this heavy metal triumvirate ruled the world. Grand Funk Line left a legacy that uniform today attracts a legion show consideration for followers who, like me, attend to old enough to know unscramble, but who don’t give spick fuck.

Pete Makowski joined Sounds refrain weekly aged 15 as well-organized messenger boy, and was before you know it reviewing albums.

When no-one bulk the paper wanted to review Deep Purple's Made In Japan in December 1972, Makowski did the honours. Birth following week the phone rang in the Sounds office. Experience was Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore. "Thanks for the review," oral Blackmore. "How would you choose to come on tour mess up us in Europe?" He additionally wrote for Street Life, New Opus News, Kerrang!, Soundcheck, Metal Hammer and This Level-headed Rock, and was a test officer for Black Sabbath, Hawkwind, Motörhead, the New York Dolls and more.

Sounds Woman Geoff Barton introduced Makowski top photographer Ross Halfin with honesty words, “You’ll be bad supporter each other,” creating a harden that spanned three decades. Halfin avoid Makowski worked on dozens of dub for Classic Rock in the 00-10s, bringing back stories that crackled with humour and insight. Pete acceptably in November 2021.